Establishing a diverse and inclusive workplace gives employees the opportunity to learn, grow, and work collaboratively. One powerful resource to help in this journey is a diversity calendar. It helps your staff learn more about important monthly themes, cultural awareness days, DEI holidays, and religious events. Many themes are celebrated each month to help raise awareness about important causes and celebrate different heritages. October Awareness Months cover a large sample of different themes for you to learn about on our diversity calendar.
In addition to the October Awareness Months below, you can get an overview of some of the most important month-long observances in our Heritage Months 2025 and Awareness Months 2025 articles.
What Month Is October?
October Heritage Months 2025
Polish American Heritage Month
The first Poles migrated to America starting in the early 1800s. This month, celebrate their contributions to culture and society. Once here, they were dedicated to preserving their heritage and culture and even started a national network of Polish-language newspapers, radio, and television stations to keep their language alive. New York State has the largest Polish-American population with Michigan, Wisconsin, and Connecticut having a substantial group too.
Italian American Heritage Month
Nearly 16 million Americans identify as Italian American according to the U.S. Census. Italian American Heritage Month occurs every October to overlap with Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday. It was first celebrated in 1989 with a proclamation from George H.W. Bush. Every year, a Columbus Day parade is held in New York City with an average million spectators.
Filipino American History Month
Filipino American History Month is celebrated as it was when the first Filipinos arrived in California in 1587. Many organizations in California and Hawaii, where many Filipino Americans reside, hold annual celebrations. Some call the month “Filipino American Heritage Month” while others regard it as a History month to focus on the events and lived experiences and their impact on society.
October Awareness Months 2025
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder that affects adults and children. It can lead to challenges dealing with self-control, focus, and impulsive behavior. This month hopes to raise awareness about the misconceptions associated with the community. Take time to promote understanding and support to all those living with neurodiversity all year.
This month is dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer, promoting screening and early detection, and raising funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. The campaign also offers support to those affected by breast cancer and commonly features pink ribbons as its symbol.
Each year, nearly 6,000 babies born in the United States are diagnosed with Down Syndrome, or 1 in every 700 babies. October focuses on the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome. Learn about their unique strengths and promote a society and workplace that values diversity and offers support to those living with Down Syndrome and their families.
Global Diversity Awareness Month
This month is dedicated to celebrating and increasing awareness about the diverse cultures and populations that make up the world. It encourages individuals and organizations to learn about different cultures, as well as to promote inclusion and understanding across various cultural contexts. The celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact of diversity on society and to challenge and address issues of inclusion within communities and organizations.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
This national campaign honors the contributions of people living with disabilities to the economy and workplace. It also raises awareness about disability employment problems and advocates for accommodations in the workplace for those living with a disability.
Check out November Awareness Months next.
Enjoyed our October Awareness Months overview? Learn about more DEI holidays, heritage months, and religious events on our Diversity Calendar 2025 and Interfaith Calendar 2025. This blog post hopes to educate you on different monthly themes in hopes that you will continue to learn and grow. To learn more about other 1,000+ DEI events and for the entire list of awareness months, try out our full Diversity Calendar.